Latch



Nov. 5, 1929.

A. ANDERSON ET Ax.

' LATCH Filed' Nov. 1o, 1925 Patented Nov. 5, 1929 l. il A.

ARTHUR ANDERSON, OF NEWTON CENTERAN;I FRL'JZ Wl A.-.HE1\IR1CI,. OF BOSTON, f

MASSACHUSETTS'-.. v i l Laren Application led November 10, 1925. Serial No. 68,1952' This invention relates to latches and particularly to latches for washing machine cylinder covers and the like, and its object is to provide an improved latch having, among others,

the advantages herinafter pointed out.

Fig. 4, a longitudinal sectional View looking up on the line 4 4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5, a front view showing a bolt of different type; and Y Fig. 6, a front view showing the latch in unlocked position.

Referring first to Figs.V 1, 2 and 8, my novel construction comprises the usual cylinder 1, the cover 2 of which is adapted to slide upwardly beneath curved guides 3, 3, and top 4 of the washing machine casing 5.

At any convenient point or points, and herein near the lower opposite Vcorners of the cover 2, it is provided with a novel latch cornprising a housing 6 with bosses 7 threaded to receive screws for securing the housing to the inner face of the cover 2, one casing cover2L being shown open.

The end wall 8 of the housing adjacent the cover edge is cut away to permit the bolt 9 to slide therethrough. This bolt -has a laterally extended and widened section or plate 10 within the housing which carries threaded or otherwise secured thereto an arm or extension 11 which is substantially a part of the bolt. The bolt is provided with any suitable pressure exerting or throwing member as a spring 12 for normally throwing the bolt outwardly. The spring is seated against l the web 14 on the rear housing wall at one end, and against the plate 10 at the opposite end. This arm 11 slides through an aperture 13 in the guide web 14. The opposite housing end wall 144 is apertured at 145 to permit convenient assembly of the arm and spring.

For withdrawing thebolt, or unlocking the latch, Figs. 2, 4 and 6, we have provided a novel detached and pressure supported handle 15 provided at its bolt operating end with oppositely positioned and laterally extended arms 16, 16, which are in this case relatively thin and lie between `the plate 10 and the housing wall 8, straddling the bolt 9, one at the top and one at the bottom thereof.

The handle 15 normally lies substantially in the longitudinal, central pla-ne of the housing and is operable entirely therein, preferably not extending outwardly beyond the cover, thereby obviating any danger to the person or garments of the operator from the protruding handle when the cover is raised or lowered, the cover 2 being provided with a slot 17 to permit the Stingers to be inserted beneath or above the handle. It will be noticed that the handle is not pivoted or fastened to the housing or bolt, but is pressure positioned and double fulcrumed in action.

When one desires to raise the cover, the operator places his lingers beneath the handle, presses upward on it and this causes the handle to swing upwardly about the upper arm edge 18 as a fulcrum, with the lower arm swinging inwardly against the lower edge of the plate 10 pushing itinwardly, withl drawing they bolt 9 from the socketk19. The arm edge 18 contacting with the plate 1() gives it a relatively long throw inwardly, re-

' leasing the bolt 9 quickly. Continued pres-A sure on the handle will of course raise the y cover'to its upward position. v

Thus it will be seen, that by simply pressing y y y upon the hand slightly at first, one releases the latch, and increased pressure raises the cover without the necessity of changing the direction of V'pressure or releasing the handle. To lower the cover, one naturally ypresses* downwardly on the handle, thus first releas ing the bolt from its socket and then causing the cover to slide downwardly; but it will be noticed that the handle maybe pressed either upwardly or downwardly, either movement of the handle acting to release the bolt, one handle member only being provided. Our novel construction is simple, easy to install, readily operative and most convenient, the movement that operates the latch serving also When continued, to operate the cover or door.

.Our invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment described and illustrated herein, and We claim:

A latch comprising a housing, a bolt entirely operable therein, a pressure plate for the bolt, a throwing member seated thereon, and a resiliently supported handle operative against the plate either above or below the bolt for operating the bolt.

ln testimony whereof, We

names to this specication.

ARTHUR ANDERSON. FRITZ W. A. HENRICI.

have signed our 

